How to say “what a shame!” in Spanish
“What a shame!” in Spanish is ¡qué pena! (keh PEH-nah), or ¡qué lástima!
- Spanish
- ¡qué pena!
- Say it
- keh PEH-nah
- Also said
- ¡qué lástima!
One of 57 phrases in Common Spanish Phrases and Greetings: learn them step by step and practise them all.
Everyday Spanish expressions
The other words in step 6 of Common Spanish Phrases and Greetings.
- de acuerdoOK, all right · deh ah-KWEHR-doh
- por supuestoof course · por soo-PWEHS-toh
- no séI don't know · noh SEH
- no te preocupesdon't worry · noh teh preh-oh-KOO-pehs
- ¿en serio?really? · en SEH-ryoh
- ¡qué bien!great! · keh BYEN
- ¡buena suerte!good luck! · BWEH-nah SWEHR-teh
- ¡felicidades!congratulations! · feh-lee-see-DAH-dehs
- ¡salud!cheers! · sah-LOOD
- ¡buen provecho!enjoy your meal · bwen proh-BEH-choh
- ¡vamos!let's go! · BAH-mohs
- por ejemplofor example · por eh-HEM-ploh
- sin embargohowever · seen em-BAR-goh
Questions about ¡qué pena!
How do you say “what a shame!” in Spanish?
“What a shame!” in Spanish is ¡qué pena! You can also say ¡qué lástima!
How do you pronounce qué pena?
Say it keh PEH-nah. The syllable in capitals is stressed: PEH. This guide follows Latin American Spanish.
What does qué pena mean in English?
In English, ¡qué pena! means “what a shame!”.
Keep learning Spanish
Common Spanish Phrases and Greetings
Hello, goodbye, introductions, polite phrases and everyday expressions, with practice for each one.
Common Spanish Verbs
77 everyday verbs from ser and estar to buscar and encontrar, with the present tense and practice for every verb.
Days of the Week in Spanish
Lunes to domingo, today and tomorrow, and the parts of the day, with practice that tracks every word.
Spanish words A–Z
Every word with its own page: how to say it, hear it and practise it.
Updated · Pronunciation guides use Latin American Spanish.